EP 2962123 A2 20160106 - APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ASSISTING VERTICAL TAKEOFF VEHICLES
Title (en)
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ASSISTING VERTICAL TAKEOFF VEHICLES
Title (de)
VORRICHTUNG UND VERFAHREN ZUR UNTERSTÜTZUNG VERTIKAL GESTARTETER FAHRZEUGE
Title (fr)
APPAREIL ET PROCÉDÉ D'ASSISTANCE DE VÉHICULES À DÉCOLLAGE VERTICAL
Publication
Application
Priority
US 2013027831 W 20130226
Abstract (en)
[origin: WO2014133488A2] According to one aspect of the present invention, a radar system is provided which accurately measures the surface profile in a wide sector beneath and forward of a helicopter, to aid low level transit and landing in poor visibility. This uses an electronic beam synthesis technique to form multiple beams directed at the area of interest, each measuring the distance to the first reflected signal received by each beam. These distances represent the profile of the ground and any objects on the ground. A processor then compares the measured profile with the ideal ground profile for safe landing. If the deviations from straight and level exceed the specified requirement for safe landing, or if sufficient rotor clearance is not detected, then a warning is given to the operator. A display will show the measured ground profile highlighting the unsafe regions, allowing the operator to seek a safe region to land. The novelty lies in the way the beams are formed to measure and display the ground profile and provide a warning system. This beam-forming technique is simpler and more cost effective than with a conventional phased array radar.
IPC 8 full level
G01S 13/08 (2006.01); G01S 13/88 (2006.01); G01S 13/935 (2020.01)
CPC (source: EP)
G01S 13/003 (2013.01); G01S 13/325 (2013.01); G01S 13/882 (2013.01); G01S 13/935 (2020.01); G01S 2013/0254 (2013.01)
Designated contracting state (EPC)
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR
Designated extension state (EPC)
BA ME
DOCDB simple family (publication)
WO 2014133488 A2 20140904; WO 2014133488 A3 20150625; AU 2013379851 A1 20150910; AU 2013379851 B2 20180301; AU 2018203898 A1 20180621; EP 2962123 A2 20160106; EP 2962123 A4 20161019; IL 240770 A0 20151029
DOCDB simple family (application)
US 2013027831 W 20130226; AU 2013379851 A 20130226; AU 2018203898 A 20180601; EP 13876483 A 20130226; IL 24077015 A 20150823